Jehovah’s Witness spared jail after sex with 15-year-old

A married Jehovah’s Witness walked free after having sex with a 15-year-old schoolboy during a sleepover at her home

A married Jehovah’s Witness has walked free after having sex with a 15-year-old schoolboy during a sleepover at her home.

Married mother-of-two Kelly Jane Richards, 36, fell in love with boy who visited her home to play on her children’s X-Box games console.

A court heard how the boy went to the Richards’ bedroom to comfort her after rowing with her after she rowed with her husband.

Richards, who was 18-years older that her teenage lover, ended up “astride him” on the marital bed.

Their relationship was exposed when the boy’s mother became suspicious and bugged his bedroom to listen in on telephone conversations he was having with the highly respected churchgoer.

The judge said Richards had groomed the boy but let off with a two-year-suspended sentence

Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how the vulnerable teenager was given support by the Richards family because they were all members of the same Jehovah’s Witness church.

Prosecutor Roger Griffiths said: “Their friendship and relationship began because the boy would visit Richards’ home to play on the X-Box.

“He stayed with the family on a regular basis and one night in October 2012 Mr and Mrs Richards argued.

“Mrs Richards was in her bedroom upset and crying .

“The boy and Mrs’s Richards’ son went in to stop her from crying and were supportive.

“But her son left and Richards started kissing the boy which led to full sexual intercourse.

“Mrs Richards was in her nightie, the boy was in his clothes – she was astride him. It was over very quickly.”

Richards, wearing a black suit and striped blouse, sobbed as the details were read to the court.

Her husband was sitting with members of the Jehovah’s Witness church in the public gallery.

The court heard Richards and the boy communicated daily through their mobile phones, computers and Facebook.

The boy’s mother was so concerned about their relationship she put a dictaphone in her son’s room so she could record his telephone conversations with the churchgoing mother-of-two.

Mr Grifftihs said: “In one conversation the boy was heard asking Mrs Richards if she was touching herself.

“The boy’s mother took his mobile phone from him but Richards gave him another Sim Card.

“During their relationship she gave him alcohol and asked him to give her massages.

“She said she loved him.”

Richards of Mountain Ash, South Wales, was given a two-year suspended sentence after admitting unlawful sexual activity with a child between October 31 and December 1 2012.

She was also put under a sex prohibition order preventing her from contact with males under the age of 16.

Sarah Waters, defending, said: “The Jehovah’s Witness community encouraged Mrs Richards’ family to help the boy.

“They took him to the cinema and went ice skating – in that context they became close.

“There was never any intention on her part to cross the line which it clearly did.

“But it was not a premeditated situation of exploiting him for her own sexual gratification.”

Seven letters of support were handed to the judge, including one from Richards’ husband of 13 years.

Members of her Jehovah’s Witness congregation described her as “bubbly, kind. family-orientated, happy, trustworthy and an upstanding member of the community.”

Judge Richard Twomlow told the court: “There was grooming, a significant disparity in age, specific targeting of a vulnerable child and she told him not to say anything which is a further aggravating factor.”

But the judge said there were “unusual features” in the case which allowed him to give Richards a two-year suspended sentence and a two-year supervision order.

He told her: “I give you credit for pleading guilty, your good character and that you have show some remorse.

“If you had not pleaded guilty the sentence would have been three years in prison.”

Richards was hugged by her husband as they left the court. The pair declined to comment.